Help with Refresh Ideas for Exterior & Front Porch

last month

last modified: last month

Hi,

Hoping to source color and/or design ideas from others who have a more creative eye than us!

We're planning on adding a detached garage with an apartment above to our property. It will have to match the roofline and materials/aesthetics/colors of our house. However, we'd like to refresh some of the materials or colors used on our house before we finalize the design of this detached addition. We tend to gravitate towards craftsman styles and nothing too modern.

The prior owners performed several additions and remodels so our house has a little bit of everything! Current materials: beige vinyl siding, light brown with red undertone vinyl shake siding (very faded, pics taken before we washed the house), mixed stone, some brick

Since we have so much of the beige vinyl siding (the sides and the back of the house are mostly this) and it seems costly to replace all of that, we've been leaning towards replacing the vinyl reddish/brown shake siding. We're OK with the shake look, just not the current coloring. We've never been in love with all the round columns (both on the front porch and the accents on the side of the garage). We just don't know how practical or feasible it is to replace them and what alternative would look good? We're okay with the arches but open to eliminating them as well. We're open to refreshing windows and the garage door.

Thank you in advance for any suggestions!

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Patricia Colwell Consulting

last month

last modified: last month

The portico has to go no matter what . It is over the top and not in any way suitable for the house since you are doing some work on the siding I would eliminate the arch on the window above the garage and for sure the shake style siding . If possible the best would be to match the rest of the siding as close as possible If new windows then IMO a nice bronze would be my choice and a darker color for .the garage door and the rest of the trim including the front door. If the windows are iffy in the budget then at least paint the trim around the ones you have in a dark bronze If it was mine hat whole front facade would go and a nice to scale and style prch and portico with simple square posts where needed .If possible remove the grids from the existing window if they stay.

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Comments (7)

housegal200
last month
Here's a palette that would work with your house, also one that has different sections.
Arlington Heights, IL Remodel Split Level Integrity from Marvin Windows & Siding · More Info

The left side of the above house is streamlined and inviting. Your gigantic portico and all those pillars seem distracting and must make the interior dark. A smaller portico with simple pillars would really open up your façade or a porch roof extended from portico so you still have a covered porch but one that is not so overbearing.
Ranch Home Portico - Contemporary · More Info

Here's a wood pergola and porch roof with straight wood pillars. You really need an architect to see what's doable and how to make changes.
536 Ansley Street · More Info
K Daily thanked housegal200
millworkman
last month
Where are you building this detached garage?
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housegal200
last month
Sorry, I missed the part that you're also adding a detached garage. Then you definitely need an architect to tie all the rooflines together and suggest changes. Earlier I was going to comment on how to minimize the double garage you already have--a lot and it juts out from the house, too. So now your footprint will be more garage than house, so a lot to think about.
littlebug Zone 5 Missouri
last month
last modified: last month
The persons who added the portico seemed to suffer from delusions of grandeur; @housegal’s suggestion of a much more streamlined, straight portico would be a handsome upgrade.

Your house has a lot going on and you are correct that it needs simplification and coordination. There are 3 finishes - siding, shakes, and brick. Choose 2.
K Daily thanked littlebug Zone 5 Missouri
K Daily
Original Author
last month
Thank you all for the feedback and suggestions so far. Agree that we need to simplify and bring professional help into the equation! I like the look of the smaller porch & just 2 square pillars option. If you face the house, the detached garage will be on the left, in the front/side yard area.
housegal200
last month
last modified: last month
Do you really need two garages? Couldn't renovate your existing garage to get what you want? It's a two-car garage with a second story. And best of alll, it's already there. Two separate garages are just going to squeeze your little house in between.